Jason Momoa has undergone a major transformation for a good cause–to raise awareness about single-use plastics.
The Aquaman actor is an environmental activist who has worked with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and rePurpose Global and was recently designated a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Advocate for Life Below Water.
To demonstrate his ongoing mission to protect and conserve the ocean and nature, the native Hawaiian with Polynesian roots chopped off his signature locks.
In an Instagram video, Momoa showed viewers he "shaved off the hair" as he held up two long braids that were previously attached to his head.
While the hairstylist seen in the clip continued her handiwork, Momoa felt a sensation on his scalp he hadn't felt in a long time.
He said:
"Ooh, man! I've never even felt the wind right there."
You can see the new Momoa here.
He explained to viewers:
"I'm tired of these plastic bottles."
"We gotta stop. Plastic forks, all that sh*t. It just goes into our land. It goes into our ocean."
"I'm here in Hawai'i right now and just seeing things in our ocean—it's just so sad."
"So please, anything you can do to eliminate single-use plastics in your life, help me. Help me. Plastic bottles are ridiculous."
Fans and colleagues got the message loud and clear and were totally onboard...after they collected themselves from the initial shock of seeing the actor's new 'do for the first time.
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
Momoa held up an aluminum can of water from his company, Mananalu, and encouraged fans to:
"Bring your canteen, or now everyone is making the aluminum, which is fantastic."
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
@prideofgypsies/Instagram
He heralded a new chapter with his caption for the post, which read:
"Here's to new beginnings let’s spread the aloha. be better at protecting our land and oceans."
"we need to cut single use plastics out of our lives and out of our seas. plastic bottles, plastic bags, packaging, utensils all of it. let’s aloha our ‘āina (land) together. aloha j."
Aloha 'Āina—love of the land—is a core value for Indigenous Hawaiians. As a person with ancestral ties to one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos, Momoa has long held reverence for the ocean and nature, which inspired him to champion the rights of inhabitants of island nations and the surrounding oceans.
He shared what the ocean means to him at a press conference in June.
“For me, the ocean is an ancient teacher, a guide and a muse. It is also existential."
"Without a healthy ocean, life on our planet as we know it would not exist."
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